VA leaders promised us reform, and never delivered

Veterans for Common Sense was supposed to be heard but the hearing has been moved to April. After all, the Gulf War veterans, along with all other veterans have waited all this time for congress to really honor them, what's a couple of months more?

Paul Sullivan, Veterans For Common Sense

February 25, 2010 - Veterans for Common Sense thanks Chairman Mitchell, Ranking Member Roe, and members of the Subcommittee for inviting us to testify today.



I am here wearing two hats.



I am here representing Veterans for Common Sense, a non-profit advocacy organization. VCS is here in a spirit of cooperation to offer our seasoned advice for improving VA policies for our nation’s 700,000 Gulf War veterans.



I am also here as a Gulf War veteran who remains ill due to wartime toxic exposures. I have worked on this issue since my return from Desert Storm. Veterans want to know why we are ill, how we can get treatment, and who will pay for our treatment.



Today, VCS presents our written list of 16 detailed policy goals to Congress for specific actions by Congress and the Obama Administration. We ask for our full written statement to be made part of the record.



Our goals are well thought-out and reasonable.



Most of our goals ask VA to do what Congress already ordered VA to do many years ago.



We would also like to thank VA Secretary Eric Shinseki for naming Gulf War veteran and VA Chief of Staff John Gingrich to lead VA’s new Gulf War Task Force.



We look forward to seeing the details of the Task Force report. We have not seen it. At this point, we have more questions than answers.



Mr. Chairman, Gulf War veterans are through with empty gestures from VA for the past 19 years.



Repeatedly during the 1990s, VA leaders promised us reform, and never delivered. In 2002, VA Deputy Secretary Leo MacKay apologized for VA’s shameful treatment of Gulf War veterans and promised reform.



However, behind the scenes, from 1991 through the present, VA bureaucrats scuttled our chances for healthcare and benefits. VCS asks VA to use objective and qualified staff for any new VA effort to assist us.



Let us be clear about today’s expectations: We are willing to work with VA and immediately begin implementing pragmatic solutions.



Here are our nine questions for VA:



1. Will VA Secretary Eric Shinseki publicly confirm that 25 percent of our Gulf War veterans – as many as 175,000 – still suffer from chronic multisymptom illness likely due to toxic exposures? Will the Secretary hold accountable those who blocked or disparaged research, treatment, and benefits?



2. Will VA amend Presidential Review Directive 5? Will our government declare Gulf War illness is a serious public health issue and a long-term cost of war worthy of prompt and high-quality research, treatment, and benefits?



3. Will VA name a specific leader and will VA publicize a timeline for the full implementation of all VA Gulf War Task Force goals?



4. Will Congress fund, and will VA create, a centralized VA office for Gulf War veterans to coordinate implementation of VA policy, training, research, benefits, and outreach?



5. Will Congress fund, and will VA create, a Gulf War advocacy panel?



6. Will Congress act to help VA restore Dr. Robert Haley’s vital research, mandated by Congress, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center? In a related matter, when will VA investigate the handful of VA employees that VA’s IG concluded had undermined Dr. Haley’s important research? When will VA responded to our FOIA requests about those VA employees?



7. Will Congress urge VA officials to order the use of newer, more sensitive depleted uranium exposure tests as recommended by the Institute of Medicine and sought by Dr. Randall Parrish and by Dr. Haley? Will VA expand the population of veterans participating in DU research sought by Dr. Haley and IOM? If VA does not use the Best Available Current Technology, then VA stands accused of intentionally undermining scientific research and harming veterans.



8. Will VA retrain all VHA medical professionals about the harmful impact of toxic exposures on our veterans? Similarly, will VA retrain all VBA staff about the intent and application of Gulf War benefit laws?



9. Will VBA pay retroactive benefits to the 15,000 Gulf War veterans improperly denied benefits by VBA in 2001 for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome? VBA leaders may have broken the law by failing to advise veterans about these benefits; the loss of benefits also means the veterans may have been improperly denied essential medical care.



Gulf War veterans should not have to continue waiting for VA to act. We are tired of what we call “death by bureaucracy,” where we wait endlessly for research, treatment, and benefits.



After nearly 20 years of delays and denials, today represents a rare opportunity for VA leaders to implement a set of reasonable, progressive, and pragmatic policies that address our needs for research, treatment, and benefits. Our veterans are dying, the time for delays is over, and the time for action is now.



America’s veterans are watching this hearing. They want Congress to press VA leaders to help Gulf War veterans and quickly address two more new emerging public health concerns: Iraq’s toxic burn pits and Camp Lejeune’s poisoned water.



We strongly urge Congress to demand action from VA to address our concerns today. We also thank Chairman Filner for his outstanding leadership and advocacy since 1993.



Thank you, Mr. Chairman.